Our Manufactured Reality

Chapter 27: Get Them Back

[Harper's POV]

I didn't know why I had cut him off. Charlie had been so welcoming. He was finally going to confess... how he... well, it sure had seemed like he was going to... to tell me how he felt? Maybe?

I didn't know anymore. It had been so long since we'd been on the same page. Every waking moment felt like Charlie was either avoiding me, or talking to me as a friend. Although, that time had felt different. Maybe there was something still lingering in the back of his mind. About us. There was definitely something in the back of my mind.

We strolled down the path as these thoughts swam through my head. Getting past the rest of R.E.P. hadn't been difficult; everyone was too focused on the newbies. In regards to the new recruits, I suddenly realized how disconnected from them I felt. It was weird knowing that none of them would recognize how much hardship the team went through for them. The robots were gone... all of them. Now, everyone would come into a world not terrorized by machines, but forgotten by man. Civilization was thin, like an intruder in mother nature's environment.

But it wasn't the lack of understanding that bothered me, it was the loss of the leader. The people from the pods would never know as kind a soul as Corey. They could never thank him for his dedication to saving them, or even remind him of a time before the crumble of humanity.

It just wasn't the same.

I returned my gaze to Charlie. Feeling my eyes on him, he turned to face me as we walked. His soft features sent a shiver up my spine and warm reassurance through my blood. He knew how things were before the others. He knew all that Corey had done.

"How do you think the others will adjust?" I asked, breaking the calm silence.

Charlie looked back at the path. "I think they'll get the hang of things. We did, didn't we? Plus, Alex will help them," he replied, stepping over a branch.

"You really believe Alex can take over?"

"Definitely. I mean, he's no Corey, but he has the same head-strong determination. It's just mixed with a little more caring nature now. Why? Don't you?" Charlie had a well thought out answer.

"I guess. I'm just not ready for Corey to be gone, you know?" He nodded, pointing at a rock in my way. I trotted around it, making sure to stay with him. After a pause, I questioned, "Do you think there will be a funeral?"

"I'm not sure... Have they done those before?" Charlie wondered as well.

"I don't think so, but maybe since Corey is such a figurehead."

"Yeah, maybe."

~~~

We talked all through the rest of the day. As the sun crept down below the skyline, I realized how tired I was. We had walked for a full day to reach the compound, fought with all our remaining strength, and then wandered in the direction we had come. Maybe reaching the compound without stopping had been an unattainable goal.

"I never asked you about the battle. How did it go? Obviously you survived, but I'm assuming that gash is from a machine?" Charlie pointed to my face. A long cut ran from my hairline to my cheekbone.

"Oh yeah. I forgot about it." I touched the scar. "The robot kinda snuck up behind me and tried to cut my face off, I guess. But that's really all my injuries besides a few bruises." I chuckled, anxiously reliving the memory of the fight.

"Well, at least you made it out alive." Charlie smirked. I willed my heart to stop beating so fast.

"What about you?" I inquired and yawned out of exhaustion.